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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#153: Fighting Talk

Whether you’re hot headed by nature, or the thought of bad blood breaks you out in a rash, arguments are unavoidable. As we age, we all realize that confrontation is often necessary. This week’s prompts explore the world of conflict and resolution — and trying to find the positive in the negative.

This week's prompts

Write a story about a character learning to stand up for themselves.

Character – 48 stories

Write about a character trying to heal an old rift.

Sad – 42 stories

Write a story about two characters who have been fighting for so long, they can’t remember what started it.

Sad – 27 stories

Write a story that includes the line “I can’t believe we’re arguing over this.”

High School – 60 stories

Write about a character who settles disputes for a living (a judge, mediator, school counselor, etc).

Middle School – 36 stories

Stories

“Electrifying” by Kate Kilbee

Submitted to Contest #153

Four female friends who used to work together were enjoying their monthly chat over coffee and pastries. In the past they'd worked for a company called Weston, whose attitude towards women was appalling. Criticism of their work and overt sexism was rife. One particular director was known for lunging at a woman if he caught her off guard in the canteen. "Give us a kiss darling," he'd say with a strong whiff of halitosis, or "Nice puppies. Do they want to come out to play," whilst staring down her cleavage. Women were classed as lackey...

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“Late Night Truces” by A. C.

Submitted to Contest #153

*Content warning: some violence and language* Lee Park’s first thought when he discovers his childhood rival has a cousin is far from polite. Shit. There’s more of ‘em? The Tri-State Martial Arts Tournament had pitted him against newcomer, Chiyo Hamada, for his third match and while a fist to the face might not be the most formal of introductions, he can’t say he wasn’t the slightest bit impressed by her strength. She knew how to pack a punch. How to properly generate the right amount of torque with every meticulous swerve of her hip...

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“Falling for you? Little by little, day by day ” by Chelsea Mckinley

Submitted to Contest #153

Chapter 1: Sammy DannonFor Sammy Dannon being a counselor, being someone with the power to bring forth a sense of security and relief, wasn’t just a corny childhood dream of his, no. In fact, it was something Sammy swore to actively pursue. Not only to become a counselor, but to stop thinking of himself in the third person. In a huff, he made another paper ball, and proceeded to aim and fail to score into the trash can. He realized, he was failing at achieving his dream, and was starting to wonder what he should actually do ...

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“Moments of Silence” by Austin Baker

Submitted to Contest #153

(Hey all, quick warning up front. The below story contains some mentions to mental health and topics surrounding familial relationships and grief. Please keep safe and be mindful of your own mental health!)Leaden feet carried me closer to the place I needed to go. Through the trees and the rolling hills, to the solitary figure awaiting me.He said nothing as I approached nor as I made a spot for myself in the unruly grass beside him. Normally I would’ve balked at the idea of sitting among the weeds and dirtying the nice suit I wore, but today...

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“It Was a Snickers” by Murray Burns

Submitted to Contest #153

It Was a Snickers “Every man’s conscience is a thousand swords." &nbs...

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“Offering The Olive Branch” by James Grasham

Submitted to Contest #153

The chill autumn breeze blew the dead brown leaves in swirls across the path as Luthar steered Stepper over the familiar ground. He’d not set foot in this place since he was eight years old, yet the route seemed as familiar as an old pair of boots. North of Whitestar there was little in the way of civilisation, save for the occasional farmstead or small hamlet. Luthar’s destination was the northernmost village which stood at the entrance to the Frozen Pass, an old trade route in the icy mountains long since abandoned to the snows. He could s...

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“The Other Side of Civil” by D.C. Reed

Submitted to Contest #153

I would say it started when we were young. Brothers. Destined to fight over anything. To compete over everything. But now, now brotherly conflict seems silly. As I sit here, hiding behind a building, as bullets whizz around me. Brother against brother, wondering how we got here. Raised on the land. That’s what my dad had always called it. Raised in the great outdoors. The farm. The life. We shot together. Ran together. Fought and squabbled together. It is what brothers do. It is what we did. There was always something to comp...

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“The Last Word” by Michael Shaw

Submitted to Contest #153

The second Jacob removed his gnarled fingers from the rook, he'd seen his fatal mistake. He silently cursed and hoped that Malcolm would miss it somehow. But he knew better, and Malcolm's hoarse cackle a few seconds later was all the confirmation he needed. If his hands had been surer, and his reflexes faster, Jacob would’ve switched off his hearing aids before Malcolm could start rubbing his face in his mistake. But they weren’t, so he was forced to subject himself to it. “Check and mate,” Malcolm exclaimed with glee. “That’...

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“The Spatula” by Catherine Walden

Submitted to Contest #153

Joan and Norman sold the old house finally and ended up in a duplex, though it took nearly two years to get there. It was a small, simple place. They'd had to give up a bedroom to afford the yard Norm wanted, so the interior was crowded and felt cluttered already. They had several truckloads less stuff in this new home, but they also had considerably less room. Even worse, to Joan's dismay, the duplex smelled like the old house already. She had loved the fresh, clean smell of the place when they first entered it, the scent of wood and fresh ...

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“Dualism” by Robert Bennett

Submitted to Contest #153

Drp. Drp. Drp. Blood dripped off of his body steadily, adding to the pool of crimson beneath him...wait...above him? Dorian arched his body this way and to try and get a better view. It was hard to really get a good angle given the dozens of large, metallic spikes that pierced his body at odd angles starting at the neck and going all the way to his feet. The giant skewers locked his body into place and made it difficult to really see anything, but given the blood was 'up' his face, ...

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“The unknown colours of life” by Janani D

Submitted to Contest #153

As a child,Priya was told VIBGYOR are the colours of rainbow. As Priya grew she saw so many colours and shades of people. You must be wondering what I am talking about. I am talking about Priya's uncle Ray, he is the eldest brother of the family. He has taken care of his 13 siblings, their studies, marriages and everything. He worked very hard in life. [this is colour 1). One day as a child Priya saw him romancing one of his sisters(this is colour 2). Priya is in my her early 50's but still unable to take this out of her mind. Mr Ray has...

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“City of Destruction” by Timothy Cooper

Submitted to Contest #153

I woke up after a seven and a half hour flight just before we landed. The movement of the other passengers standing up to remove their baggage from the overhead compartments had awakened me, although there weren’t very many of us onboard. Silently, we followed each other one by one past the gloomy flight attendants as they mumbled their farewells. Thankfully, I had not brought very many bags with me because I was not planning to stay here in this foreign country for long. That meant I could bypass baggag...

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“Take Two: A Romance” by Ava Raim

Submitted to Contest #153

Ding Dong. That infernal bell chimes above the entrance to my bookstore, breaking into my reverie. I’ve tried to take it down before but Cherie (who’d renamed herself when she’d learnt her mother had named her after her favourite pie flavour), who mans the register when I’m not in, informed me that without it, she’d never hear a new customer walk in. We both know that it wouldn’t be an issue, except for her wont to slip into the backroom at every opportunity. She’s obsessed with her new boyfriend, and I don’t say that lightly. She told me ...

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“Tunnel” by April Summers

Submitted to Contest #153

“I’m stuck. I’m bloody stuck. This is the worst writer’s block I’ve had so far and if this is what I have to deal with as a writer, then it’s better to quit early on.” I pulled at my hair and sighed for probably the billionth time. No matter how hard I try to rack my brain, nothing mind-blowing seems to come. It’s all the usual generic stuff that I don’t want to write about again. A couple of weeks have gone by and I thought that by now this block would have passed and I would be pumping out novel stories one after the next, but sadly my not...

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“All In The Family” by Mark Nero

Submitted to Contest #153

Gee, I hate turbulence… Whether it be on a plane or any type of turmoil between people or families, which is ironic considering my occupation. I did what I did, not because I liked it but because I was good at doing it… and it paid a lot. Turbulence is also a great equalizer within planes, as first-class passengers like me, are shaken as hard as those in economy. The last little shake woke me from my nap, but I was surprised that I slept at all, as I hated sleeping on planes. After rubbing my face, I looked around the still dark cabin an...

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$250

Prize money

213

Contest entries

103

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Jul 08, 2022 EST

Won by L. E. Scott 🏆

Title: Broken

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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